The Effects of Orbicularis Muscle and Suborbicularis Fat Fixation in Subbrow Blepharoplasty.

Background: Subbrow blepharoplasty has become popular in Asian populations for redundant skin and lateral hooding in the upper lid. How to imrpove the effects of the procedure becomes urgent.

Objective: To investigate the effects of orbicularis muscle and suborbicularis fat fixation in subbrow blepharoplasty.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. Thirty-eight patients were subjected to the operation from January 2018 to June 2024. All patients had dermatochalasis and lateral hooding of the upper eyelid. In the procedure of subbrow blepharoplasty, the orbicularis muscle flap in combination of the suborbicularis fat was pulled up and fixed to the periosteum over the suraorbital rim. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 2 years. The results were evaluated. The complications were reviewed.

Results: The resection of skin was 12.2±1.9 mm in width. The length of subbrow skin excised was 39.4±4.4 mm. The height correction of the brow descending was 2.8±1.0 mm at the midpupil line and 3.8±1.0 mm at the lateral canthus line. The operative time of both sides was about 50 minutes. Thirty-seven patients (97.4%) were satisfied with the surgical results, 1 patient (2.6%) complained about slight asymmetry. There was no serious complications related to surgery.

Conclusions: Subbrow blepharoplasty incorporated with orbicularis muscle and suborbicularis fat fixation is reliable with high patient satisfaction in the patients with dermatochalasis and lateral hooding of the upper eyelid.